4 ms·

The parts you list result in wasted research money. The system you complain about results in more R&D getting out into the world. The money you complain about

The parts you list result in wasted research money. The system you complain about results in more R&D getting out into the world. The money you complain about goes to run an org that has connections, does advertising, provides stable employment when grants fluctuate, has hiring and HR and payroll and a zillion other services, all making those doing the research more able to do research, and provides more channels to move results into production. So it makes sense. You just haven’t thought through or had to perform all the pieces, so to you it doesn’t make sense.

monero-xmr 2y ago
Ah yes, we need a fudge factor to subsidize a bunch of unquantifiable woo like “advertising” and “stable employment”. I’m sick and tired of elites telling me basic business operations of profit and loss, value for money, quantifiable results are beyond my peasant brain to understand.
- vkou 2y ago
  > Ah yes, we need a fudge factor to subsidize a bunch of unquantifiable woo like “advertising” and “stable employment”. Try convincing the AC guys to work for parts cost + a skilled worker wage * number of hours worked, see how well that goes over. They'll laugh you out of the room, and you'll be left sitting on your ass without air. The entire world charges overhead for work done. Most of it way more than 25% of the sticker price.
  - SJC_Hacker 2y ago
    >Try convincing the AC guys to work for parts cost + a skilled worker wage * number of hours worked, see how well that goes over. They'll laugh you out of the room, and you'll be left sitting on your ass without air. Huh? Thats exactly what they do. Parts + labor
    - vkou 2y ago
      And at what markup do they bill you, compared to what they paid their supplier, and to what they pay the guy who drives out to install it? (Hint: Nearly half of what you pay on the bill is their overhead.)
      - monero-xmr 2y ago
        It’s wonderful that I can compare proposals and know the bill. To pretend NIH grants are anything remotely like normal private sector contractors is absurd and shamefully deceitful
        vkou 2y ago
        > It’s wonderful that I can compare proposals and know the bill Does the NIH not, like, compare proposals before deciding on whether to pay for them? > To pretend NIH grants are anything remotely like normal private sector contractors Please enlighten us to the differences that are at all pertinent to this question. Specifics, not vague scare quotes.
        SJC_Hacker 2y ago
        While there are classes of grants with different levels of funding, the grants are generally considered on their own merits and not based on how much overhead a the recipients institution would charge. Thats a side negotiation.
        vkou 2y ago
        It's a side negotiation that, as I understand, happens through a different process, set down by law. But there's still a process, and contracts have been made by the parties involved, and there's a legally mandated timeline for renegotiating those contracts that is not being followed. You are right that it is different from how the private sector operates. The private sector does not even let you think about negotiating either their overhead or profit margin.

monero-xmr 2y ago

Ah yes, we need a fudge factor to subsidize a bunch of unquantifiable woo like “advertising” and “stable employment”. I’m sick and tired of elites telling me basic business operations of profit and loss, value for money, quantifiable results are beyond my peasant brain to understand.

vkou 2y ago
> Ah yes, we need a fudge factor to subsidize a bunch of unquantifiable woo like “advertising” and “stable employment”. Try convincing the AC guys to work for parts cost + a skilled worker wage * number of hours worked, see how well that goes over. They'll laugh you out of the room, and you'll be left sitting on your ass without air. The entire world charges overhead for work done. Most of it way more than 25% of the sticker price.
- SJC_Hacker 2y ago
  >Try convincing the AC guys to work for parts cost + a skilled worker wage * number of hours worked, see how well that goes over. They'll laugh you out of the room, and you'll be left sitting on your ass without air. Huh? Thats exactly what they do. Parts + labor
  - vkou 2y ago
    And at what markup do they bill you, compared to what they paid their supplier, and to what they pay the guy who drives out to install it? (Hint: Nearly half of what you pay on the bill is their overhead.)
    - monero-xmr 2y ago
      It’s wonderful that I can compare proposals and know the bill. To pretend NIH grants are anything remotely like normal private sector contractors is absurd and shamefully deceitful
      - vkou 2y ago
        > It’s wonderful that I can compare proposals and know the bill Does the NIH not, like, compare proposals before deciding on whether to pay for them? > To pretend NIH grants are anything remotely like normal private sector contractors Please enlighten us to the differences that are at all pertinent to this question. Specifics, not vague scare quotes.
        SJC_Hacker 2y ago
        While there are classes of grants with different levels of funding, the grants are generally considered on their own merits and not based on how much overhead a the recipients institution would charge. Thats a side negotiation.
        vkou 2y ago
        It's a side negotiation that, as I understand, happens through a different process, set down by law. But there's still a process, and contracts have been made by the parties involved, and there's a legally mandated timeline for renegotiating those contracts that is not being followed. You are right that it is different from how the private sector operates. The private sector does not even let you think about negotiating either their overhead or profit margin.